Life-preserver.



A. SOMMERFELD.

LIFE PRESERVER.

APPLICATION FILED 00121, 1912.

1,081,520. Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

fylgz COLUMBIA PLANODRAPH 50., WASHINGTON, uv c.

AUGUST SOMMERJEELD, or ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

LIFE-PRESERVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

Application filed October 21, 1912. Serial No. 726,874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUcUs'r SOMMERFELD, a :c tizen of the United States, and resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life- Preserve-rs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in life preservers and has for its object a casing constructed of resilient material which can be inflated and placed around the body of the person and located between the hips and arms, and stays for supporting the casing in proper shape.

A further objectof my invention is to construct .a life preserver, the body of which is formed of resilient material, and preferably conical in form in cross section, the same arranged to be inflated and means for retaining the body in conical form when inflated, and a means for supporting the preserver 011 the body of the wearer.

Figure 1 is a view showing my invention in position on the wearer. Fig. 2 is a per spective View of the life preserver detached.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the same. Fig. 4 is a top lan view of a life preserver. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a hand attachment made use of in connection with the life preserver.

In carrying out my invention I provide a life preserver constructed of a body portion or casing 6 which is arranged to encircle the entire body of the wearer, the same being open in the front, and the device is attached to or tightened around the body by means of the straps and buckles 7 or other fastening devices. The body portion or casing 6 is constructed of resilient material such as rubber cloth or the like, and has a vertical wall 8 and a tapered or conical wall 9, the bottom edges 10 firmly secured together by stitching, and then hermetically sealed by a liquid rubber coating or the like and the top portion 11 is either formed integral with the walls or separate as desired and stitched to the upper edge of the walls, and said stitches likewise rubber coated in order to prevent leakage. Located at suitable intervals and extended from wall to wall are straps 12 which may be adjusted to suit the width of the top and are fastened by buckles 13 or other fastening devices to retain said straps in their adjusted position. The inner or vertical wall 8 which encircles the body is provided at suitable intervals with stiffening ribs or stays 14; these stays extending from the top to the bottom and are properly covered with sheet rubber or rubber coating as found most desirable so as to prevent rusting and as well to prevent contacting with the body; the outer surface, or inclined wall 9 is also provided with stiffening ribs or stays, th back provided with four stays 1 1 located at suitable intervals apart and the front provided with four stays 15 two located on each side of the opening or adjoiningedges, and these stays are located at proper intervals apart; these stays also extend the entire height of the wall and are likewise rubber covered, and these stays assist in retaining the proper conical shape.

I The preserver is inflated with air through the inlet 16 and the same is placed around the body and supported on the shoulders by means of the shoulder straps 17 which are connected together at the rear by the cross strap 18.

The essential feature of my improved life preserver is the conical arrangement of an inflated casing to entirely encircle the body and extend from the hips to the arm pits and by means of the inflation and flexibility of the casing the arms 10 can be readily moved and compress the casing without in any way interfering with the practicability and operativeness of the preserver; the specific object in making the preserver of conical formation is to have the greater amount of air at the top and to permit proper movement of the body in the water so that the wearer can swim and tilt forwardly for the reason that the tapered outer wall has a formation similar to that of the hull or bottom of a boat; and further when the wearer springs into the water, the tapered formation will permit the body to enter gradually and prevent a sudden jolt or stop.

This life preserver is adaptable for the army and navy and when not in use can be folded or rolled into a small bundle, and when desiring to cross a deep stream, the preservers can be blown up and applied to the bodies of the soldiers, and when in the water the upper portion of their bodies will be kept above the water line that they may make practical use of fire arms while in this position. In addition to this arrangement of life preserver I provide paddle attachments 19 which are constructed of flexible material and held in extended position by ribs or stays 20, the outer surface provided with finger loops 21 through which the fingers of the hands are inserted, and a wrist strap 22 by which the paddle is firmly clasped over the wrist; the paddle is to be worn on the palm of the hand so that in the event of a ship wreck the person wearing the life preserver and the paddles can swim more rapid. The purpose of placing an equal number of stays on the front and rear is to properly balance the preserver so as to avoid throwing the body either forwardly or rearwardly.

Having fully described my invention what I claim is:

1. A life preserver comprising a continuous casing to entirely encircle the body, a vertical wall and an inclined wall connected together at the base, a top portion connecting the vertical and inclined walls, and stays attached to the inner and outer walls for retaining the casing in conical form when infiated, substantially as specified.

2. A life preserver comprising a casing composed of an inner vertical wall, an outer angular wall, said walls connected together at the base forming a sharp edge stays connected to the inner wall and located at intervals apart, stays located on the outer wall, fastening devices for supporting the casing around the body of the wearer and shoulder straps for supporting the same, substantially as specified.

3. A life preserver comprising a conical casing having a vertical inner wall and a slanting outer wall, the lower ends connected together, a top separating the upper edges thereof, means for adjusting the width of the upper edge and stays for retaining the casing in conical form when inflated, substantially as specified.

4:. A device of the class described comprising an inflated casing arranged to encircle the body and extend from the hips to the arm pits, the wider portion of the casing be ing at the top the bottom forming a sharp edge, stays for supporting the casing in conical position when inflated and straps for adjusting the breadth of the wider portion, substantially as specified.

5. A life preserver oi the class described comprising an inflated conical shaped casing separated for application and arranged to encircle the body of a person, means for fastening the same around the body, means for retaining the casing in conical form when inflated and means for regulating the width of the upper portion of the casing.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUST SOMMERFELD.

WVitnesses:

VALTER C. STEIN, ALFRED A. EIoKs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

